At the close of the 24th Century, a series of revolutions has caused the galaxy to descend into chaos. With the Galactic Union’s Army stretched thin, mercenary units have arisen for those who have the need—and the means—to hire them… Captained by former Detached Guerrilla Forces Colonel R.A. “Rags” Cutter, the Cutter Force Initiative is one of the best. A specialized team consisting of both aliens and humans, the Cutters offer services ranging from fight training and protection to extraction and assassination—as long as the target deserves it and their employer makes good on payday. When they’re hired to find and rescue Indira, the soon-to-be-married daughter of the Rajah Ramal of New Mumbai, the teams’ first task is to identify the kidnapper. The obvious suspects are insurgents who want to overthrow the rajanate, but as other forces enter the game and an assassination attempt is made on Ramal, the Cutters realize that their in-and-out extraction job is about to get a lot more interesting—and a lot more lethal…

“THAT’S NO MOON.” –Obi-Wan Kenobi The Death Star’s name says it all, with bone-chilling accuracy. It is a virtual world unto itself–equipped with uncanny power for a singularly brutal purpose: to obliterate entire planets in the blink of an eye. Its annihilation of the planet Alderaan, at the merciless command of Grand Moff Tarkin, lives in infamy. And its own ultimate destruction, at the hands of Luke Skywalker, is the stuff of legend. But what is the whole story, and who are the players, behind the creation of this world-killing satellite of doom? The near extermination of the Jedi order cleared the way for Palpatine–power-hungry Senator and Sith Lord–to seize control of the Republic, declare himself Emperor, and usher in a fearsome, totalitarian regime. But even with the dreaded Darth Vader enforcing Palpatine’s sinister will, the threat of rebellion still looms. And the Emperor knows that only abject fear–and the ability to punish dissent with devastating consequences–can ensure his unchallenged control of the galaxy. Enter ambitious and ruthless government official Wilhuff Tarkin, architect of the Emperor’s terrifying dream come true. From inception to completion, construction of the unprecedented Death Star is awash in the intrigues, hidden agendas, unexpected revelations, and daring gambits of those involved on every level. The brightest minds and boldest egos, the most ambitious and corrupt, the desperate and the devious, all have a stake in the Death Star–and its potential to control the fate of the galaxy. Soldiers and slaves, loyalists and Rebels, spies and avengers, the innocent and the evil–all their paths and fates will cross and intertwine as the Death Star moves from its maiden voyage to its final showdown. And a shadowy chapter of Star Wars history is stunningly illuminated in a thrilling, unforgettable adventure. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

Provides the latest information on all aspects of using temporary anchorage devices in clinical orthodontics, from diagnosis and treatment planning to appliances and applications Written by some of the world’s leading experts in orthodontics, Temporary Anchorage Devices in Clinical Orthodontics is a comprehensive, up-to-date reference that covers all aspects of temporary anchorage device (TAD) use in contemporary orthodontics. Taking a real-world approach to the subject, it covers topics ranging from diagnosis and treatment planning to the many applications and management of complications. Case studies demonstrate the concepts, and high-quality clinical photographs support the text throughout. The book begins with an overview of clinical applications and fundamental principles of TADs. It then goes on to cover biomechanical considerations for controlling target tooth movement with TADs. Biomechanical simulations for various clinical scenarios treated with TADs are addressed next, followed by an examination of histological aspects during the healing process and anatomical considerations with TADs. Other chapters cover: Class II Correction with TADs, Distalization with TADs, TAD-anchored Maxillary Protraction, Maxillary Expansion with TADs, Anterior Open Bite Correction with TADs, TAD-assisted Aligner Therapy, TADs vs. Orthognathic Surgery; Legal Considerations When Using TADs; and much more. Provides evidence-based information on the use of TADs, with a focus on improving outcomes for patients Considers topics ranging from diagnosis and treatment planning to specific clinical applications and appliances Takes a real-world clinical approach, with case studies demonstrating concepts Written by international experts in the field Presents hundreds of high-quality clinical photographs to support the text Temporary Anchorage Devices in Clinical Orthodontics is an essential resource for orthodontists and orthodontic residents.

As Civil War between the Republic and the Separatists rages across the galaxy, nowhere is the fighting more fierce than on the swamp world of Drongar, where a beleaguered mobile hospital unit wages a never-ending war of its own . . . A surgeon who covers his despair with wise-cracks; another who faces death and misery head-on, venting his emotions through beautiful music . . . A nurse with her heart in her work and her eye on a doctor . . . A Jedi Padawan on a healing mission without her Master . . . These are the core members of a tiny med unit serving the jungle world of Drongar, where battle is waged over the control of a priceless native plant, and an endless line of medlifters brings in the wounded and dying—mostly clone troopers, but also soldiers of all species. While the healers work desperately to save lives, others plot secretly to profit from the war—either by dealing on the black market or by manipulating the events of the war itself. In the end, though, all will face individual tests, and only those of compassionate hearts and staunch spirits can hope to survive to fight another day. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

This practical manual provides details on the clinical and radiographic evaluation, classification, principles of suturing and flaps, intricacies of the transalveolar surgery, newer advances in mandibular third molar surgery and complications that may be encountered during mandibular third molar exodontia. It presents vital surgical skills for the mandibular third molar exodontia in a concise and to-the-point manner. This book is a user-friendly resource for students of dentistry and maxillofacial surgery, as it brings together information from various reputable resources to one single platform for easier understanding and application. Key Features: Addresses the necessary gap in the literature with a concise yet comprehensive approach. Overhauls and updates the content to provide an exam-oriented text for students of oral and maxillofacial surgery, and professionals.

At the end of the twenty-fourth century, war is fought in a civilized manner: Each side hires mercenaries to engage in combat in specifically designated areas. To the victor go the spoils—whatever they may be… After a couple of assignments involving more intrigue and skulduggery than the Cutter Force Initiative ever wanted, the unit is looking forward to being part of a straight-up, short-term industrial war on Earth. Cutter agrees to a support role offered by an old Army comrade who’s now a general in a larger military force. The pay is good, the unit happy. All they have to do is basic ranger stuff: sneak and peek, shoot and scoot. But what starts out as a corporate fight to occupy a valuable piece of contested territory quickly goes sideways, and once again Cutter and crew find themselves in the middle of situations in which things aren’t as they seem, and the unit must determine the truth—or lose more than just a battle.

This is an open access book with CC BY 4.0 license. This comprehensive open access textbook provides a comprehensive coverage of principles and practice of oral and maxillofacial surgery. With a range of topics starting from routine dentoalveolar surgery to advanced and complex surgical procedures, this volume is a meaningful combination of text and illustrations including clinical photos, radiographs, and videos. It provides guidance on evidence-based practices in context to existing protocols, guidelines and recommendations to help readers deal with most clinical scenarios in their daily surgical work. This multidisciplinary textbook is meant for postgraduate trainees, young practicing oral surgeons and experienced clinicians, as well as those preparing for university and board certification exams. It also aids in decision-making, the implementation of treatment plans and the management of complications that may arise. This book is an initiative of Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons of India (AOMSI) to its commitment to academic medicine. As part of this commitment, this textbook is in open access to help ensure widest possible dissemination to readers across the world. ; Open access Unique presentation with contents divided into color-coded core competency gradations Covers all aspects of oral and maxillofacial surgery Supplemented with videos of all commonly carried out procedures as operative video Every chapter or topic concludes with "future perspective" and addresses cutting edge advances in each area Every topic has a pull out box that provides the most relevant systematic reviews/ key articles to every topic.

The present volume consists of translated anecdotes, on musicological and socio-cultural topics, from al-Iṣbahānī’s Kitāb al-Aghānī al-Kabīr (The Grand Book of Songs) with annotations and commentaries. It deals with musical rhythmic and melodic modes, technical terms and treatises; music instruments; composition techniques and processes; education and oral/written transmissions; vocal and instrumental performances and their aesthetics; solo and ensemble music; change and its inevitability; musical and textual improvisations; ṭarab and the acute emotions of joy or grief; medieval dances; social status. Though extracts from The Grand Book of Songs have been translated in European languages since 1816, this work presents a much larger and more comprehensive scope that will benefit musicologists, medievalist and Middle Eastern scholars as well as the general reader.

A WAR WITHIN Colonel Ray Longknife and Marine Captain Mary Rodrigo were once enemies in an interstellar war. Now they’re working together to keep the peace. But can they protect themselves from an enemy they can’t even see? When a bad space jump flings their starship thousands of light-years away from home, Longknife and Rodrigo make an amazing discovery: a planet inhabited by the descendants of a ship’s crew—lost three hundred years earlier. As acting ambassador, Longknife is eager to welcome the planet’s population back into the fold of humanity. But Rodrigo is suspicious. She senses that something is wrong under the planet’s veneer of peace and prosperity. And she’s right....

With such compelling and provocative novels as Red Planet Blues, FlashForward and The WWW Trilogy, Robert J. Sawyer has proven himself to be “a writer of boundless confidence and bold scientific extrapolation” (New York Times). Now, the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author explores the thin line between good and evil that every human being is capable of crossing… Experimental psychologist Jim Marchuk has developed a flawless technique for identifying the previously undetected psychopaths lurking everywhere in society. But while being cross-examined about his breakthrough in court, Jim is shocked to discover that he has lost his memories of six months of his life from twenty years previously—a dark time during which he himself committed heinous acts. Jim is reunited with Kayla Huron, his forgotten girlfriend from his lost period and now a quantum physicist who has made a stunning discovery about the nature of human consciousness. As a rising tide of violence and hate sweeps across the globe, the psychologist and the physicist combine forces in a race against time to see if they can do the impossible—change human nature—before the entire world descends into darkness.